Josiah Ray McCruiston shares a show of Afro-folk tales through the lens of social issues at Art & Soul Sundays at the Indianapolis Artsgarden.
Since 1996, Art & Soul has kicked off Black History Month in Indianapolis, and now this celebration of Black culture and creativity is going year-round.
Come to the Indianapolis Artsgarden 3 – 4 p.m. for Art & Soul Sundays, a time for everyone to come together for soulful music and artistic expression to get their week started.
All events are free and family-friendly. Parking is available in the Circle Centre Mall garages.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Weaving together iconic Afro-folk tales through the lens of social issues, we see a tapestry of struggle, resilience, and hope. Each scene represents a different folktale, brought to life through Afrocentric storytelling methods like Soulwork, poetic prose, and song. The play will explore themes of systemic racism, police brutality, economic inequality, and cultural identity. Songs will be integrated into the narrative, enhancing the emotional impact and connecting the tales to the present-day experiences of the Black community. Elaborate fiction was used as a tool for relief, rebellion, and resistance. These reimagined stories aim to resurrect the tradition and bring the seeds from our history to fertile fresh ground.
SCHEDULE
Select Sundays | 3 – 4 p.m.
March 23 | Akili Ni Mali and Kierra Ready | Art & Soul 2025 Featured Artists
April 6 | Josiah Ray McCruiston
June 1 | Brandon Lott | Art & Soul 2025 Featured Artist
August 3 | The Gospel of Morris
September 21 | Monique Burts | Art & Soul 2025 Featured Artist
October 5 | Jeremy Larnel Thompson
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Josiah Ray McCruiston
osiah Ray McCruiston is a creative director, a regional actor, teaching artist, and youth pastor/director who believes in the power of the creative spirit. His influence and creative works allow him to transform any space he enters with his infectious energy and spirit. He has performed across the nation, has worked in museum theatre (Indiana Historical Society, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, & Conner Prairie), and has worked in arts education for over 10 years.
He is currently working on a master’s in art education at IUPUI. He has worked as the program director and youth pastor of Witherspoon Presbyterian Church where he also worked with the legacy of Dr. Mary Etta Rose and Judge Denise K. LaRue and Dr. Mary Etta Rose. He believes in community partnerships and responsibility to develop a brave space for all people to inhabit.
Through the years, he has created art programming for Indianapolis near-west and east side with free piano lessons and visual artist programs and musical theatre summer camps/masterclasses. In all programs, students were able to work under accomplished artists, bond with a cohort of their peers, and showcase their work to their community. He roots his work in the memory of The McArthur Conservatory and other Black Arts movements across the nation. He is an award winning writer and director and believes in the Afrocentric theatre arts.
Looking for more Art & Soul events?
Check out the full Art & Soul 2025 schedule.
Art & Soul is supported annually by Lilly Endowment, Inc.
